DATE=3/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247003
TITLE=U-N / ERITREA - ETHIOPIA (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DIPLOMATS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MET
WITH SENIOR ETHIOPIAN AND ERITREAN OFFICIALS MONDAY, URGING THE
TWO COUNTRIES TO END THEIR BORDER CONFLICT. V-O-A'S UNITED
NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE STORY.
TEXT: THE COUNCIL HELD SEPARATE, INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH THE
FOREIGN MINISTER OF ERITREA AND THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF
ETHIOPIA. NAMIBIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, WHO ORGANIZED THE MEETINGS,
SAYS THERE WERE NO SURPRISES IN THE TALKS.
HE SAYS THE MEETINGS WERE CALLED SO THE COUNCIL COULD HEAR
FIRST-HAND THE VIEWS OF THE ETHIOPIAN AND ERITREAN GOVERNMENTS.
HE SAYS THE MEETINGS ALSO GAVE THE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO URGE
THOSE COUNTRIES TO CEASE FIGHTING IMMEDIATELY.
DIPLOMATS INVOLVED IN THE MEETINGS SAY THE COUNCIL WAS UNIFIED IN
URGING THE TWO COUNTRIES TO CARRY THROUGH WITH THEIR PROMISES TO
SIGN AN ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY PEACE PLAN. THE TWO SIDES
HAVE EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO SIGN THE PEACE PLAN. BUT THEY
HAVE NOT STOPPED FIGHTING. DIPLOMATS SAY THE COUNCIL WANTS THE
TWO SIDES TO STOP FIGHTING AND SIGN THE AGREEMENT SOON, SO FORMAL
MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN TO EASE TENSION AND FIND A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION.
THE MEETINGS MARKED THE FIRST TIME ETHIOPIAN AND ERITREAN
OFFICIALS HAVE PROVIDED SUCH BRIEFINGS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
22-Mar-99 5:26 PM EST (2226 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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